How to Keep Mosquitoes Away

Barbara Pleasant shares how to keep mosquitoes away, including helpful methods for controlling mosquitoes, using natural remedies in the garden to repel them and what you need to know about West Nile virus.

Learn how to keep mosquitoes away with these handy suggestions to repel mosquitoes before they attack.

Humans have been taking aim at mosquitoes since 1897, when Sir Ronald Ross identified a tropical species as the vector for deadly malaria. Now, the mosquito's role in spreading West Nile virus — not to mention its itchy bites — has humans in North America up in arms. Human infections have been documented in 39 states and the District of Columbia, and the virus still is on the move.

It's time to get to know your local mosquitoes and lay some defensive plans about how to keep mosquitoes away. Since the appearance of West Nile in 1999 in North America, an explosion of new mosquito-control devices and plant-based mosquito repellents has been underway. It's also quite possible that you can outsmart mosquitoes on your own with some of the homemade, Earth-friendly solutions outlined here.

West Nile is one of about 30 arboviruses of public health concern that are transmitted by female mosquitoes, which are the only ones that bite. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says West Nile previously was found in Africa, Eastern Europe, West Asia and the Middle East, but now is permanently established in North America. The disease is carried by 110 species of birds and transmitted by 30 species of mosquitoes.

In humans, although infections to date are considered rare, West Nile can cause a fever with mild flu-like symptoms, including body aches, low energy and headache. In extreme cases (about one in 150 people infected), West Nile meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord) or West Nile encephalitis (brain inflammation), which comes with a severe headache, fever, stiff neck and other serious complications, can bring death. No specific treatment is known.

The CDC advises if you live in an area where West Nile is widespread, seek medical attention immediately for any severe or unusual headache.

According to the latest CDC data (2002), 4,158 confirmed cases and 284 deaths have been recorded in the United States. Hot spots are Illinois, with 884 cases and 64 deaths; Michigan, with 614 cases and 51 deaths; and Ohio, with 441 cases and 31 deaths. (West Nile virus map: Yellow indicates verified Avian, Animal and mosquito infection during 2002; no humans; brown indicates human case(s). See the West Nile virus map in the image gallery).

To learn the prevalence of West Nile virus where you live, check the CDC website: www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/wncount.htm. Information on West Nile virus in Canada is available from the Health Canada website: www.hc-sc.gc.ca.

A single bite from an infected mosquito can transmit the disease to a human, horse or bird. A fairly reliable vaccination is available for horses; given in two doses, it provides protection after about two months. For humans and pet birds, minimizing exposure to mosquitoes is the most effective way to avoid potential infection.

Broad-Stroke Mosquito Control

You can lessen mosquito bites by reducing the number of mosquitoes in an area. First, eliminate their breeding places, which are any objects that can hold as little as 1 tablespoon of water for seven to 10 days — the time it takes for eggs to hatch and larvae to mature. Commonly overlooked breeding spots include old tires, clogged gutters, abandoned tubs and buckets, and cemetery urns. Of course, you can do an excellent job of removing habitat and still have mosquitoes, compliments of natural breeding areas such as tree cavities and creek edges, or your neighbor's clogged gutters.

According to the book Common Sense Pest Control, if you have a small body of water with no natural outlet, you should stock it with goldfish; mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis), which often are available from mosquito-control agencies; or native fish, many of which are good mosquito predators, too.

Ponds populated with the right kinds of fish will work like natural mosquito traps: Thanks to the hungry fish, neither egg-laying female mosquitoes nor larvae will survive.

Another aspect of control is to protect natural mosquito predators such as dragonflies, ants, ground beetles, spiders, water striders, frogs and snails. Avoid spraying broad-spectrum insecticides that kill off many of these beneficial creatures.

Purple martins and bats are reported to have voracious appetites for mosquitoes, too, but in fact, neither lives up to their reputations. Studies of the contents of purple martins' stomachs have concluded that mosquitoes are a negligible item in these birds' diets, according to the Purple Martin Conservation Association.

And urban entomologist Robert Corrigan of Richmond, Indiana, says, "While standing outside of bat roosts counting bats as part of my master's research, I was often eaten alive by mosquitoes. They (the bats) weren't exactly doing the job they're supposed to be famous for."

Both bats and martins, it turns out, prefer larger insects such as beetles, moths, flies, wasps and bees, which give a better return on their energy efforts.

The Lure of Mosquito Traps

Numerous commercial mosquito traps are now on the market. Most work by releasing small amounts of carbon dioxide and/or octenol (1-Octen-3-ol), a substance chemically similar to gases produced in the rumen of cows. Mosquitoes lured by these gases are killed in sticky traps, vacuums or electrocution grids.

The American Mosquito Control Association determined these devices do lure and kill large numbers of some mosquitoes, but some species, in some areas, remain unaffected.

The association also advises that some manufacturers' claims of "acre-wide control" may be a bit overstated and that placing such baited traps on your property could attract mosquitoes that might not come otherwise. Priced from $200 to $500 each, these traps are expensive enough that you may want to ask for endorsements of their effectiveness on local mosquito species before making the investment.

It is, however, inexpensive and safe to stock up on citronella candles. They contain citronella oil made from tropical lemon-scented plants (Cymbopogon, various species) that are native to Asia, where this oil has long been used as an insect repellent.

The candles have been shown to reduce mosquito bites by up to 42 percent while being burned, according to a study done by researcher Guy Surgeoner at the university of Guelph in Ontario. New machines designed to release ,prays based on citronella oil or geraniol, another plant-derived repellent with a sweet, rosy odor, also are available.

Grow Your Own Natural Mosquito Repellent

Some gardeners keep scented geraniums on their patios and report that swishing their hands through the leaves makes it possible to enjoy being outdoors without suffering mosquito bites. Art Tucker. research professor at Delaware State University and coauthor of The Big Book of Herbs, confirms that rose-scented geraniums (Pelargonium x asperum, sometimes sold as P. graveolens) contain both citronellal, which is similar to citronellal, and geraniol. Rut, he says, the widely promoted "Citrosa" geranium, which is the so-called "Mosquito Plant," appears to contain only small amounts of citronellal and is not likely to be any more effective as a mosquito repellent than other rose geraniums.

A better, less expensive choice for a homegrown mosquito repellent may be lemon balm (Melissa officinalis). Tucker says lemon balm is easy to grow from seeds and contains citronellal, geraniol and geranial.

Although lemon balm oil (called melissa oil) is hard to find commercially, a strain of lemon balm plants with higher essential oil content now is sold by some nurseries. Two mail-order sources are Johnny's; [www.johnnyseeds.com]; and Richters [www.richters.com]. To use the balm as a repellent, just crush a handful of the delicious-smelling leaves in your hand and rub them on exposed skin.

Tucker's herbal repellent, can be mixed up at home, too. He says his daughter reported success with it, especially against ticks, when she was a ropes instructor at a camp on Chesapeake Bay. She included myrrh.

Another good dooryard repellent plant could be catnip. The American Chemical Society has reported that researchers Chris Peterson and Joel Coats at Iowa State University found nepetalactone, the essential oil in catnip (Nepeta cataria) , to be about 10 times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEFT (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide), the widely used synthetic repellent. And James A. Duke, an authority on herbal healing and author of The Green Pharmacy, reports mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum) contains enough pulegone, another powerful insect repellent, to make it somewhat effective, too.

(A note of warning: Do not use mountain mint if you are pregnant; the ingredient pulegone has been known to increase the risk of miscarriage.)

Gardeners also report anecdotally that handfuls of basil (Ocimum basilicum); lemon thyme (Thymus x citriodorus); lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), which is citronella's kissing cousin; and various other fragrant herbs crushed and rubbed on the skin often repel mosquitoes for short periods — usually less than 30 minutes. (Always use any herb with caution until you know how your skin will react.)

Other Mosquito Repelling Strategies

When it comes to treating your lawn, be careful not to kill the natural enemies of mosquitoes, which definitely occurs when you spray or "bomb" an area with broad-spectrum insecticides. Many of these sprays contain one or more of a group of insecticidal compounds known as pyrethrins. Extremely toxic to bees, fish and other aquatic animals, these chemicals also have been associated with life-threatening allergic reactions in humans, and anemia and disruption of sex hormones in lab animals. They will kill both good and bad insects. Using them is even more disruptive to the natural balance of outdoor life than using electric bug zappers that attract bugs to a light source and then electrocute them. (Numerous studies have confirmed that zappers also kill many beneficial insects and relatively few 'skeeters — unfortunately, less than 2 percent of insects killed by bug zappers are the biting female mosquitoes.)

But don't give up the fight for comfortable, safe outdoor space. One good way to help shoo mosquitoes off your deck or patio is to use a fan. Mosquitoes may be great smellers, but they are weak fliers. If you often sit on an unscreened porch, install an overhead ceiling fan: you'll be cooler and have fewer bites.

You also can reduce your personal attractiveness to mosquitoes. Avoid using highly perfumed soaps and shampoos, wear loose-fitting clothing, which forms an air barrier between you and the bugs, and use an herbal repellent.

The key to using any plant-based repellent is to watch how it's working. Immediately after application, mosquitoes will not light on your skin; as the effectiveness wanes, they will light but not bite. That's your signal to go inside or to apply more repellent because the third stage is near — when the mosquitoes light and bite.

If mosquitoes are numerous, you may want to invest in mosquito-net shirts, hoods or pants, and you may want the protection of a chemical repellent, too. Numerous studies show that products containing DEET are the most effective for the longest time, usually more than four hours.

Despite some reports of adverse reactions, the CDC considers DEET to be safe when products containing it are used according to label directions. For a child, apply only repellents with 10 percent or less concentrations of DEET, and don't put the repellent on the child's hands. For adults, research shows that products with no more than 35 percent DEET are as effective as those with higher concentrations.

The best idea might be to keep a bottle of DEET-based repellent on hand for emergencies only, such as hiking in a swamp or at sundown in the middle of summer, and rely on plant-based repellents for everyday use. In a 2002 study conducted at the University of Florida's Medical Entomology Laboratory, three plant-based repellents were found to be effective for at least an hour. These were Bite Blocker, which contains soy, coconut and geranium oils (and which now has had citric acid added and is called Bite Blocker Herbal Spray), Repel's Lemon Eucalyptus and Fite Bite Lemon Eucalyptus, both lemon eucalyptus-based lotions. (The study found citronella products, Avon Skin So Soft and wristbands laced with DEET provided protection for only 20 minutes or less.)

Barbara Pleasant, a regular contributor to MOTHER EARTH NEWS, is the author of The Gardener's Bug Book. Her most recent book, Garden Stone, received the Garden Globe award from the Garden Writers of America.

Contributing editor Barbara Pleasant gardens in southwest Virginia, where she grows vegetables, herbs, fruits, flowers and a few lucky chickens. Contact Barbara by visiting her website or finding her on Google+.

As an EXTREME mosquito magnet who does not want to use Deet. I'm Happy to share with you an All-Natural product I found that is already mixed & ready to use, that is ALL NATURAL & Organic & WORKS BETTER THAN DEET.... I've only had 4 bites since I started wearing this stuff several months ago, which is amazing considering that I work outside about 70 yards from a spring fed pond (mosquito haven). Their $15 bottle lasts me about 2 months. I get mine at: GF7BetterThanDeet.com. enjoy...

RlM

7/16/2014 5:54:42 PM

Count our entire family, and many friends, among those who are appalled that MEN would run an article that recommends the use of a dangerous toxic synthetic chemical - directly on the skin - like DEET, when there ARE safe and effective alternatives.
-Diethylmetatoluamide) has been shown to irritate eyes & mucus membranes, and sometimes the skin. According to the EPA, it can in rare cases lead to epileptic seizures. Some studies show it also causes insomnia, impairs one's sensory perception and destabilises emotional moods.
Whye even consider using poison when the Earth has provided all kinds of natural insect repellents such as lemon balm or lavendor oil? I put a drop of lavender oil on my forehead before going to sleep and it keeps the mosquitos away. If we are really trying to save the planet - and ourselves with it - we must be uncompromising: USE NO MORE HUMAN-MADE POISONS!' - Thank you Catherine, for summing that up all so well.
And - isn't that what MEN was supposed to be all about? This is an example (along with the 'buy a new refridgerator' article) of why we have NOT renewed our subscription.
*The Mosquito Magnets work well for us, reducing the swarms from making it impossible to work outside even with a bug-suit, to fine, except at dawn and dusk. Place the unit(s) BETWEEN the prime sources of mosquitos and your home, and they will not attract mosquitos to your patio or deck. On a large property surrounded by marsh, moist woods, and a stream, 3 units strategically placed have worked wonders. **Best control has been acheived with a combination of the Mosquito Magnets AND a variety of poultry - also limiting black flies, midgets, no-see-ums, and many, many other pest insects and ticks!
Keep in mind that mosquitos can even breed in damp heavy vegetation. Not to mention swamps, marshes, puddles, etc. Paving the planet is not the solution.

lucy123

7/8/2014 10:01:23 AM

check out trap at green power science on you tube. also cheap spray to kill captured mosquitoes and feed them to good bugs in your garden.
Lucy at http://www.hotellyonouest.com lyon Ouest

Khover2002

7/7/2014 9:40:30 AM

I'm surprised and a little disappointed that a simple fan wasn't mentioned. According to the American Mosquito Control Association [http://www.mosquito.org/faq], "Mosquitoes are relatively weak fliers, so placing a large fan on your deck can provide a low-tech solution."

SolarManJD

7/1/2014 5:31:42 AM

We use to sell a solar powered mosquito repelar.
I would emit a sound that imitated the mosquito's only none natural enemy a Dragon Fly's Buzz of its wings... This was very evident when you would watch what would happen when you had it turned off..then all the mosquitoes would appear and start buzzing around you...then turn it on and watch um scatter ..running for cover as fast as they could to get away from that noise...that we can't hear but they know very well...

Catherine

6/30/2014 1:42:10 PM

I must say, I am shocked that Mother Earth should suggest using Deet (Diethylmetatoluamide) to combat mosquitos! DEET has been shown to irritate eyes and mucus membranes, and sometimes the skin. According to the EPA, it can in rare cases lead to epileptic seizures. Some studies show it also causes insomnia. impair one's sensory perception and destabilise emotional moods.I mean, whx bother to use poison when the Earth has provided all kinds of natural insect repellents such as lemon balm or lavendor oil? I put a drop of lavender oil on my forehead before going to sleep and it keeps the mosquitos away. If we are really trying to save the planet - and ourselves with it - we must be uncompromising: USE NO MORE HUMAN-MADE POISONS!

Holly

6/10/2014 4:24:21 AM

We keep horses, and they are tortured by moskitos every summer. The homeopathic remedy Apisin 30C removes the itching and swelling immediately, so they get it whenever it is needed. They need a new dose when swellings appear again. The remedy usually is good for several days. You can dilute 2 - 5 Apis globuli (tiny white pills) in a glass of water, stir it, and a teaspoon of this diluted medicine will be enough. So it is very inexpensive.

Holly

6/10/2014 4:19:52 AM

We live in an area with lots of mosquitos, so we protect our houses with screen windows. The cites also spread bacillus thuringensis all over the surface water and this has helped to reduce the moskito pest a lot. What we also discovered is that persons on a whole grain diet are not bothered by the moskitos whereas persons on a standard American diet that includes refined grains and sugar are literally eaten up by them while the healthy eater is hardly bothered. (It ia the B-vitamins contained in grains that repel the moskitos, so some people take it as supplement when they travel to highly infected areas.)

Mrs. V

7/11/2011 3:22:29 PM

Check out Buzz-Off at God's Country Botanicals. It contains 11 insect-repelling essential oils in an insect-repelling base of soybean oil. Better-than-DEET ingredients include catnip oil, lemon eucalyptus and geranium, as well as the old stand-bys citronella and lemongrass oil. Find it at www.GodsCountryBotanicals.com

Kathleen McKernan

6/25/2011 3:52:30 PM

We live in the coastal area of New Jersey and the mosquito is our state bird. Lemon balm planted near where you enter/leave your home works wonders. Just grab a handful of leaves and rub them all over. Smells great and keeps the critters (including no-see-ums) away. We think it works on ticks too but can't promise.

alpcats

6/17/2011 12:54:33 AM

check out trap at green power science on you tube. also cheap spray to kill captured mosquitoes and feed them to good bugs in your garden.

Elli Sparks

6/15/2011 4:56:48 PM

When my son gets bitten his skin reacts right away with a big bump and lots of itching. We've found teatree oil to be extremely effective in reducing swelling and eliminating itch. The trick is to apply it within an hour or so.

hhunt

6/15/2011 3:28:25 PM

The plant that will grow in compact soil, mentioned at the end of the article, is plantain. The article has been corrected to reflect that fact.

belinda

6/15/2011 2:04:55 PM

I also did not see what the common weed that grows in compacted soil to help with bites. What is it?

Amy_44

6/15/2011 12:27:39 PM

Fran, I don't see the weed remedy either! I googled it and found that Plantain can be used on bug bites (just do an internet search to see what it looks like - I have some in my yard and never knew what they were called). Here is an excerpt from the website about how to use it: "How to use plantain? Make a fresh leaf poultice. Pick a leaf, chew it well and put it on the bite. "Like magic" the pain, heat, and swelling -- even allergic reactions -- disappear, fast! (Yes, you can dry plantain leaves and carry them in your first aid kit. Chew like you would fresh leaves.)
Poultices ease pain, reduce swelling, and help heal. No wonder they're the number one natural choice for treating insect bites, bee and wasp stings." You can go to http://www.susunweed.com/Article_Bug_Bites.htm to read up some more. I'll have to try this!

Fran Kilmer

6/15/2011 11:12:13 AM

Did I miss something? In the last section, If You Are Bitten, what is the common weed that grows in compacted soil and can be used after a bite? I failed to see the weed identified.

Suzanne Horvath

6/15/2011 9:53:57 AM

I'm in the process of ordering Buhach powder to control mosquitoes. As I've stated elsewhere, I use cedar oil products to control fleas, ticks, ants etc. But the flying critters are harder to control. I'm hoping the Buhach does the trick. It would be nice to be able to sit outside and read a book, which is impossible now. Between the cedar oil and the Buhach, I should be one happy puppy!

Bill Goodrich

6/15/2011 9:13:10 AM

Your skin may become sensitized to Calamine lotion if used for an extended period of time.

Dianne

6/15/2011 8:35:07 AM

This article is a little behind the times. The horse vaccination is now a single yearly booster after the intial double dose and is good for a year. There are several companies who offer a reliable vaccination. Check with your vet.

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